CH. XVII HITTING A LEADER 409 



be hit above his trace, which may make him kick ; 

 moreover, if the thong is muddy, it leaves a mark. 



There are three ways of hitting a near leader : 

 The usual one is to swing the thong over the top of 

 the coach (being sure that it is swung high enough 

 to avoid striking any one on the back seat), and 

 then throwing- it out alongside of the near wheeler 

 so as to touch the leader from the outside. An- 

 other way is to pass the whip, unwound, of course, 

 to the left side of the coach, and to describe a 

 vertical circle with the thong, throwing it forward as 

 before, but not permitting any part of the thong to 

 go back behind the driving-seat. This resembles 

 what Scotch fishermen call a ' Spey-cast' with the 

 rod ; used where trees are behind the angler ; it is 

 difficult, and requires long practice. The neatest 

 way is to hit the horse from the off side, under the 

 bars, the point of the thong passing in front of 

 the wheelers and behind the off leader, catching 

 the near leader on his off hind leg. If the stroke 

 is delivered as if aimed at the kidney-link of the off 

 wheeler it will be successful. This is also a difficult 

 stroke, but so neat that it is worth acquiring, and 

 it will be hardly noticed by persons on the coach, 

 whereas, owing to their necessary amplitude, the 

 other two motions are conspicuous. 



Some good coachmen recommend, and practise, 

 throwing the thong on the leaders' backs between 

 the heads of the wheelers ; possibly in certain con- 

 fined places it may be necessary, but it is a bad 



